Device for cleaning feeding nipples for infants



A. SAUER March 3, '1953 DEVICE FOR CLEANING FEEDING NIPPLES FOR INFANTSFiled Dec. 15 1946 IN VEN TOR.

VAN

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR CLEANINGFEEDING NIPPLES FOR INFANTS Ann Sauer, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 13, 1946, Serial No. 716,011

9 Claims. (01.15-136) This inventionis concerned with a device forcleaning feeding nipples for infants.

A nipple of this type is made'in the form of a rubber cap or shell andis attached to a nursing bottle to serve as a mouthpiece. In order toclean such a nipple it is necessary to turn it inside out so as toexpose its inside walls for scrubbing and washing, whereupon it ismanipulated in reverse order to restore it to normal feeding use.

The procedure, simple as it appears, requires strength and skill, and isgenerally attended with diificulties which are time-consuming andirritating. 'The manipulation is damaging to the fingers and maybedamaging to the material of the nipple. It is unsanitary and itsirritating difiiculties may inducenegligence in cleaning which mayresult in detriments affecting the well-being of the infant.

The present invention furnishes "a device adapted to clean a nipple ofthe above noted type in an effortless and sanitary manner, and withoutrequiring the bothersome manipulations intimated in the foregoingparagraphs.

The various objects and features of the invention will be brought out inthe detailed description which is rendered below with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a Well known feeding nipple in section;

Fig. '2 illustrates in diagrammatic manner, partly in elevation andpartly in section, an embodiment of a cleaning device made in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top view of'the device as seen when looking in the directionof the arrows 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a indicates a modification in a showing analogous to Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 represents another embodiment, partly in elevation and partly insection;

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the device, Fig. 5, as seen when looking in thedirection of the arrows 6-6; and

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 indicate modifications.

Like parts are numbered alike throughout the drawings. Known details andelements will be referred to only to the extent required for conveyingan understanding of the invention.

The nipple shown in Fig. 1 is well known and universally used. It ismade of a good grade of rubber commonly employed for sanitary and medical appliances. The nipple comprises a lower portion forming a'chaniberI I with an angular, re-

' ful repetition.

stricted opening I2. Numeral I3 indicates an extension flap whichfacilitates manufacture of the nipple as Well as its handling. Into thechamber II projects an annular lip or extension I4 forming an annularaxially inwardly extending recess. The mouthpiece I5 extends axiallyfrom the lower portion, as shown. The nipple is attached to the top ofthe neck of a nursing bottle, which enters into the chamber II, its rimextending into the annular space or recess formed by the axiallyprojecting extension l4. Further details of the nipple, per se, may behad from U. S. Patents Nos. 1,748,731 and 1,957,969.

The cleaning of such a nipple, which is shown in Fig. 1 in approximatelyfull size, that is, its turning inside out for cleaning purposes, is notas easy a matter as could be inferred from the simple requirement asstated. Insertion of .a finger clear into the interior of the mouthpieceI5 would obviously facilitate the turning inside out by simply rollingthe nipple over the inserted finger. This is not possible because theinside of the mouthpiece I5 is of relatively small diameter, smallerthan the size of the finger of an average adult. Accordingly, a fingerinserted into the opening I2 will just about reach to the depth whereits tip engages the annular extension I4. The material forming themouthpiece I5 must now be pressed and squeezed toward the bottom portionof the nipple, while the bottom portion is pulled and stretchedlaterally outwardly and pressed in opposite direction to curl it aroundthe relatively massive section I6. After the lower portion of the nippleis finally curled inside out and placed around the section I 6, furtherpulling and stretching is required, and at the same time pressure isexerted on the mouthpiece I5 to force .it into its inside out positionrelative to the bottom portion.

In order to realize the difiiculties of the operation, it must beconsidered that the inside walls of the nipple are covered with aslippery film of food residue which prevents a firm grip. Fingernailsinterfere with the proper manipulation. They may be damaged or may inturn inflict damage on the nipple. The operation requires a surprisingamount of strength and, for efiicient performance, an amount of skillwhich cannot be assumed in an uninitiated person and, accordingly, hasto be acquired by irritating and pain- The unsanitary aspects .of theoperation result not onlyfrom the handling of the nipple under suchtrying circumstances-it must be considered that the nipplemust bemanipulated in reverse order after cleaning itbut from the negligenceand perhaps resort to artifices which the difficulties may induce in abusy and harassed person who is young and inexperienced in the task.Among artifices that may be resorted to, to save the fingers and to easethe task, may be mentioned the use of extraneous objects to assist inforcing the mouthpiece into its inside out position for cleaning, andthen again into its normal position after cleaning, which may damage thenipple and introduce foreign matter. If the scrubbing is neglected, thefood residue accumulating within the nipple may adversely affect theinfant by producing digestive disorders and abdominal distress. Severeneglect may have serious consequences.

All these difliculties are remedied by using a cleaning device made inaccordance with the invention.

The new device, as shown in Fig. 2. comprises a cleaning or scrubbingmember generally indicated by numeral 20, which is associated with ahandle 2|.

The general shape of the scrubbing member conforms substantially to theinside confi uration of the nipple. It comprises a shank portioncarrying roughened, grooved or knurled annular sections 22 se arated bygrooves such as 23, and a grooved or knurled top 24 wh ch may beprovided with a small proiection 25. The shank is reduced at 26 andterminates in an annular axially extending shallow depression or rece s21 formed by the annular extension or lip 28 of the knurled or roovedbarrel section 29. The face or rim of the annular extension 28 is liewise roughened or knurled as indicated in F g. 3.

A nurled or roughened bottom section 30 is pro ided hich is se aratedfrom th barrel section 29 b an angular groove III. The inclin d all 32 othe o e 3| mav be suitably roughened or "nurled. if desired. From thebottom secti n 3 extend the fasten n or counling section 33 h chconnects with the handle 2|.

The clean n member ma e made of anv desired and su ta le D n-corrosiveateria rgfera lv a molded p astic material. Stainless steel or the li"ema also he used. The hand may like ise be made of any red and su ta lematerial. for examn e. a molded plastic material. The coupling extensionma be tapered, if desired. and mav be c mented ith n a s m la ly taperedrecess with n the h ndle. If esired the handle may be provided with acou lin extension for insertion into a recess in the cleaning member.instead of providin an extension on the cleanin member for insertioninto a recess in the h nd e. Both the cleanin member and the handle mabe made integrall A cap or cover in the form of a shell made of suitablematerial is indicated in Fig. 2 in dotted lines. marked by numeral 34.The cover may be provided with a longitudinally extending slot or slotsnear its free end. and may be crimped as indicated at 35 so that it maybe easily attached and removed. It protects the working parts of thecleaning member against contamination when not in use.

The various operating parts of the cleaning or scrubbing member. asdescribed above, are d1- mensioned somewhat smaller than the inside ofthe nipple so as to permit relatively effortless insertion. The nippleis simply slipped over and onto the cleaning member to position theshank within t e ca ity of the mouthpiece l5 and the.

barrel section 79 with n the nipple section II.

The projection extending from the top of the shank is intended for entryinto the suction opening of the nipple. The bottom portion of thenipple, which carries the restricted opening 12, will then be positionedwithin the groove 3| of the cleaning member and the annular lip orextension 28 of the cleaning member with its grooved or knurled facewill lie in the annular recess formed by the axially depending extension[4 of the nipple.

The cleaning operation will be apparent from the foregoing descriptionof the structure. The nipple is held on the cleaning member by one handand is worked against it by alternate, gentle compression andrelaxation, that is, squeezing it rhythmically against the cleaningmember while the latter is manipulated by the other hand in a composite,mainly angular motion to cause scrubbing action of the roughened orknurled surfaces on the inside walls of the nipple for the purpose ofloosening up'and removing the film of food, residue deposited thereon.The projection 25 exerts a scrubbing action in the suction passage ofthe nipple.

The cleaning operation may be carried on within a body of liquidwateralone or water containing a suitable sterilizing agent-or within asanitary or sterilizing solution, or under running water. The nipple maybe repeatedly removed from the scrubbing member, rinsed and released forfurther scrubbing until clean. The cleaning operation is facilitated bythe coaction of the parts of the cleaning member with the elastic wallsof the nipple which is gently worked and squeezed in a kneading actionagainst the cleaning member, producing a pumping-like operation whichtends to expel food residue and to circulate liquid through the nipplewhile it is being scrubbed and cleaned.

The cleaning device may be separately brushed to remove from itscrevices and cleaning surfaces any food residue, and may be put in itsassigned place after replacing the cover to protect it.

The entire operation is relatively effortless, efficient and sanitary.It obviates the cumbersome turning inside out of the nipple and all thedifiiculties and irritations connected therewith, and also saves thefingers as well as the nipple from damage.

The modification shown in Fig. 3a applies to the shape of theintermediate or barrel section of the cleaning member., The numeralsused in Fig. 3a, with the sufiix a, indicate parts appearing in Figs. 2and 3 without suffix. Accordingly, 30a denotes the knurled bottomsection; 24a, the top of the shank; 25a. the pro ection extending fromthe top. The section 29 of Figs. 2 and 3 appears in Fig. 3a in angularshape, forming a number of knurled or roughened sectors 40, 4| and 42,each having an axially and radially extending roughened or knurled toothfor cleaning and scrubbing engagement with the lateral and radial wallsof the recess formed by the annular extension M of the nipple shown inFig. 1.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 provides means for iniectingliquid, water or water con-,

taining a sterilizing agent, or a sterilizing solution into the nippleduring the cleaning thereof.

The cleaning member of the embodiment Fig.

4 corresponds in general to the one shown in Figs.

2 and 3. The various corresponding sections are easily identified andhave therefore not been numbered. The scrubbing member is, however,provided with a central boring 50 which communicates with passages inthe shank terminating on the outside asindicatedat 5|. According.-

1y, liquid conducted into the boring will escape through the passages 5|and exert a rinsing, irrigating and cleaning function. Passagescorresponding to the passages 5| may, of course, also be provided in theintermediate scrubbing section 29a of'the embodiment, Fig.4.

The scrubbing member is associated with one end of a coupling or handlemember 52 carrying at its other end a bushing-like closure 53 providedwith an extension 54 which is fitted and, if

desired, cemented within the neck 55 of a suitable bulb, e. g.,, arubber bulb 56. The bushinglike member 53 has a central boring5'l whichcommunicates with a central boring 58 in the coupling or handle 52 andhence with the boring 50 in the cleaning member.

The parts are suitably shaped and joined so as to furnish aunitarystructure. The extension 33a of the cleaning member(corresponding to extension 33 of Fig. 2) maybe tapered and'cementedwithin a corresponding recess in'the handle 52. The same applies to'thebushing 53. The parts may also be screw-threaded if desired. The handle52 may be made integral with the bushinglike member 53 and its extension54, and (form a unitary structure therewith. The coupling 52 may bedispensed with .and'the extension 33a may be formed similar to'theextension 54 for direct connection with the bulb 55. These and otherstructural modifications are well Within the disclosure and need not befurther discussed.

A cover 35a is indicated in Fig. '4 in dotted lines corresponding to thecover 34 shown in Fig. 2 and having identical functions. In case of theembodiment Fig. 4, the cover is 'crimped at its free .2

cleaned is simply slipped over the roughened shank and over theroughened enlargements of the device. The "handle 52, which is rigidlyconnected with. the cleaning member, furnishes a grip for working thecleaning member with respect to the nipple in order to carry out thecleaning operations substantially as described in connection with theembodiment Fig. 2. In the present case, however,-the bulb 55 maybeLfiIled with the cleaning fluid prior to the cleaning operation and thefluid may be expelled, as desired, during the cleaning operation, byworking the bulb with the small and rin fingers against the palm of thehand, while the index and middle fingers 'andth-e thumb hold the handle5.2 or, in the absence of the handle, the neck .of the bulb.

Fig. 5 shows a cleaning member essentially constructed like the cleaningmembers of the embodiments Figs. 2 and 4, but having adifferentlyroughened surface on the shank 60, namely, in the form of aspiral or helical, or thread-like groove. A transverse slot GI may beprovided, which extends throughout the shank 60. In this slot may beinserted a piece of gauze or the like, noted in Fig. 6 at 62. Thehelical groove may be dispensed with when using the gauze. Theintermediate cleaning section 63 is formed just like the intermediate orbarrel sections 29 and 29a of Figs. 2 and 4, comprising a roughened rim64 which corresponds to the similarly roughened lip iii 28 of Figs. .2"and 3. The structure shown .in Fig. fiamay be substituted.

The cleaning member, Fig. ,5, may be provided. with a suitable handlecorresponding to the embodiment Fig. 2, or may coact with an irrigatingdevice such as the bulb 56 of Fig. 4.

Helical or spiral grooves such as shown in Fig. 5 may also be providedon the shanks of the cleaning members shown in Figs. 2 and 4 instead ofthe annular grooves. Annular, spiral or helical .grOOVBS may also beprovided on the intermediate or .barrel sections 29, 29a and 63 shown inFigs. 2, 4 and 5, respectively. The helical groove, if provided, inaddition to the scrubbing function, will operate in the nature of aconveyor for expel- ;ling the'material scrubbed out from the inside ofthe nipple.

Fig. 7 shows a sectionthroughthe shank of an embodiment employing adifferent manner of roughening the surfaces of the scrubbing member. Thecleaning or scrubbing member is in this case preferably molded from asuitable plastic material in the manner of a syringe. The shank islongitudinally fluted to form a number, e. g., three generally radiallyprojecting longitudinally extending ribs 65-65-451. These ribs mayconverge on the tip of the shank. Each rib is fluted edgewise orindented to form a central channel and two wiper-like longitudinallyextending surfaces. The radius of one of these surfaces may exceed thatof the other. The enlargement corresponding to the sections 29, 29a and63 of the previous embodiments is formed likewise, with a number, forexample, with three ribs 68, each rib being longitudinally edgewiseindented or fluted to form a channel and two wiping sur faces ofidentical or of different radii. The ribs in the enlarged section extendup and around its rim which terminates in a shallow annular groove suchas 21 in Fig. 2. The ribs intheshank as well as the ribs in theenlargement may be inclined to the axis or may be arranged in the formof a steep spiral. Radial borings communicating with a central passageconvey cleaning fluid to the various edgewise extendin channels formedon the ribs. The overall radii of the ribs carried on the shank and ofthose carried on the enlarged section are preferably somewhat greaterthan the interior radius of the mouthpiece of the ni ple and of itschamber, respectively. The nipple is slipped over the structure as inthe previous cases, and is gently squeezed and kneaded against it whilethe cleaning member is angularly moved in a rotating motion. The wipingedges of the ribs remove the food residue deposited on the inside of thenipple and fluid iniected into th channels in the manner described inconnection with the structure Fig. 4 carries it away. The longitudinalfluting takes in this embodiment the place of the roughening of thecleaning surfaces of the scrubbing member. The action is gentle andavoids scratching of the inside surfaces of the nipple even in thepresence of considerable or inadvertent force applied in the-cleaningoperation.

The device may be furnished as described or may "be constructed. in anyof the embodiments, as a permanent appliance for a hospital nursery orthe like, either in attachment to a faucet or supplying cleaning liquidby the operation of a valve, which may be either hand-operated ortreadle-operated. In this case the device is preferably made in the formof a fitting which may be generally J-shaped, as shown in Fig. 8. Thevertical bar of the J carries the cleaning member 13 with its shank, itsintermediate and bottom sections, with a coupling 12 representing thebottom lateral and upwardly turning portion of the J which may beattached to a faucet H, e. g., by a nut 14, or may be in permanentattachment with a liquid supply conduit.

A modification of a permanent cleaning structure of this type is shownin Fig. 9, comprising a liquid supply conduit 86 extending laterallyfrom a suitable mounting and containing a boring through which extends acoupling member projecting from the bottom of the cleaning member 83.The coupling is provided with a lateral boring coacting with the fittingin the manner of a valve. It has a collar 84 at the bottom and anintermediate collar spaced from the fitting by a suitable spring 85,thus holding the cleaning member normally upwardly and the valve closed.The nipple is attached for cleaning and slight downward pressure isexerted to depress the scrubbing member relative to the fitting 86,against the pressure of spring 85, to open the valve so as to supply thecleaningfiuid.

The conduit 86 in Fig. 9 may be provided with a swivel-like valve jointin place of the valve arrangement shown. Fluid will then be suppliedresponsive to angular displacement of the member 86 after placing thenipple on the cleaning member 83.

Any one of the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to '7 may be used in thestructures illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

A modification may be made in which the handle of the scrubbing memberis made hollow and contains a sterilizing fluid or agent and in whichthe scrubbing member, per se, is normally deposited when not in use,projecting into the agent or fluid, and is removed from it and placedthereon in reversed position, projecting from the handle for use.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for cleaning infant feeding nipples of the type made ofrubber or the like and having an elongated hollow mouthpiece and anenlarged transversely extending end portion forming an annular interiorchamber for receiving the rim of the neck of a nursing bottle inengagement therewith, said chamber being defined at the inner endthereof by an annular lip projecting axially in continuation of theinside wall of said mouthpiece and forming thereat an annular axiallyinwardly extending recess and being defined at the other end by aradially inwardly projecting annular wall forming a central opening forinserting the rim of the neck of the nursing bottle, said devicecomprising a scrubbing member forming a shank and an enlargementgenerally radially extending therefrom at the inner end thereof forinsertion into said hollow mouthpiece and into the interior chamber,respectively, of such nipple, the diameter of said shank and saidenlargement, respectively, being slightly smaller than the insidediameters of said hollow mouthpiece and said chamber, respectively, saidenlargement being axially recessed to accommodate said annular axiallyextending lip within said chamber and forming an arcuate axiallyextending lip for engagement with the bottom of the recess formed by thelip within said chamber, the surfaces of said shank and said enlargementbeing roughened for the purpose of exerting a scrubbing action on theentire interior wall surfaces of such nipple from end to end thereof toremove food residue deposited thereon.

2. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, wherein saidscrubbing member is provided with annular axially spaced grooves.

3. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, wherein saidscrubbing member is provided with a helically extending groove.

4. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, wherein saidscrubbing member is provided with a transverse slot for receiving ascrubbing element such as gauze or the like.

5. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, together with acentrally axially extending projection disposed at the free end of saidshank.

6. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, together with acentral boring formed in said scrubbing member and angular passagesconnected with said boring, and means for supplying a cleaning fluid tosaid boring for discharge through said passages.

7. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, together with meansassociated with said scrubbing member forming a hollow handlecontaining; a cleaning agent.

8. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, together with acoupling associated with said scrubbing member, and means for supplyingcleaning fluid therethrough for discharge into the nipple placed forcleaning onto said scrubbing member.

9. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, wherein an annulargroove is provided in the enlargement of said scrubbing member outsidethereof to form two axially adjacent sections, one for scrubbinginsertion into the chamber of the nipple and an end section forscrubbing the bottom wall of the nipple adjacent the central openingthereof which terminates in the chamber therein.

- ANN SAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

